Michael Askew: Building a Community to Combat Loneliness | In The ARENA

In this episode of In The ARENA, I am joined by Michael Askew, Co-Founder and CEO of the Belong App. Michael and his co-founder recognized the growing issue of loneliness, including their own experiences, and decided to take action.

With a mission to help others, the Belong App was born and has seen significant success over the past two years.

Key Podcast Topics:

• The Importance of Community

• How to Raise Capital

• Challenges of Being an Entrepreneur

Michael Askew’s Biography:

Michael Askew moved from London to Riyadh in his early twenties to work as a Project Manager. Traveling alone, he quickly realized how difficult it was to meet new, like-minded people.

Living in Riyadh, away from family and friends, had a significant impact on his emotional and mental well-being. After moving to Dubai, he hoped for a change, but the challenge remained. Recognizing that many others faced similar struggles, Michael and his co-founder, Matt, created the Belong App—a platform designed to connect people and foster meaningful relationships.

Podcast Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction
03:20 - Life in Saudi
07:02 - The Importance of Community in Combating Loneliness
09:30 - Entrepreneurship from a Young Age
12:05 - The Beginning of Belong
24:55 - Raising Capital
31:31 - The Gladiator Mindset
32:51 - The Challenges of Being an Entrepreneur
38:24 - How to Find a Founder
40:49 - The Feature That Pivoted Belong’s Success
52:03 - The Value Belong Provides
59:00 - Expanding to the United States
1:05:31 - Activating Cities and Events
1:13:59 - Plans for the Future
1:15:01 - Investing in Startups and Business Advice
1:35:30 - Boxing and Traveling

Stay Connected:

For more enlightening interviews featuring Gladiators and titans of the industry, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. You can also connect with me on the following social platforms:

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• Website

• Gladiator Mastery

• Belong App